• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.232-240
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive survey study was designed to identify the stress coping types of married immigrant pregnant women and find out the differences in maternal-fetal attachment and maternal identity based on each types. Methods: 151 married immigrant women who visited 3 women's hospitals located in J-do for pre-pregnancy checkup were selected as study objects. Data were analyzed by dsecriptive statistics, cluster analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ multiple comparison test. Results: Cluster analysis revealed 4 distinct stress coping styles; low stress-coping involvement social support-oriented type, high stress-coping involvement hopeful thinking type, low stress-coping involvement type, effective stress coping types. Women frequently using effective stress coping type among the four types reported higher maternal-fetal attachment. The group of active coping styles got significantly higher score on maternal identity. Conclusion: Proper stress coping of married immigrant pregnant women regarding pregnancies proved to result in high levels of maternal-fetal attachment and maternal identity. Studies measuring the stress coping styles that affect pregnancies should be continuously conducted.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.398-405
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the relationships among the perceptions and practice of taegyo (a traditional set of practices and beliefs related to healthy fetal development) and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women. Methods: The participants were 136 pregnant women who visited a public health center or maternity hospital for prenatal care. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of varience, and Pearson correlation coefficients with SPSS version 22.0. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was $32.24{\pm}3.99$ years. The mean scores for perceptions of taegyo, practice of taegyo, and maternal-fetal attachment were $3.96{\pm}0.53$, $3.74{\pm}0.64$, and $3.94{\pm}0.49$, respectively. Perceptions of taegyo were significantly correlated with the practice of taegyo (r=.72, p<.001), and maternal-fetal attachment (r=.55, p<.001). A significant correlation was also found between the practice of taegyo and maternal-fetal attachment (r=.65, p<.001). Conclusion: Perceptions of taegyo affected the practice of taegyo, and had a positive effect on maternal-fetal attachment. These findings suggest that primary care nurses at hospitals and public health centers should provide nursing intervention programs to improve the perceptions of taegyo, the practice of taegyo, and maternal-fetal attachment.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect on mother-fetus attachment through mother-fetus interaction promotion program of talking and tactual stimulation aimed at enhancing sensitivity of primipara Non-equivalent control group posttest design was used. Fifty primiparas (26 mothers for intervention group and 24 mothers for control group) were recruited from three general hospital and an OBGY clinic located in Gang Nung city. Data was collected from January 30th to December 20th in 2001. For the intervention group, programed education which focused on mother-fetus interaction promotion of talking and tactile stimulation in the 1st trimester. Telephone counselling was provided with interval of two weeks. For two groups, home visiting for data collection of mother-fetus attachment was conducted at 36 to 38 weeks of gestational age. The data were analyzed using chi-square test and Fisher' Exact test to test the equivalence of two groups, and the effect of intervention program was determined with t- test. The result was as follow: The significant difference was found in mother-fetus attachment between two groups(t= 2.772, P= 0.0079). It indicated that intervention program was effective in improving mother-fetus attachment. In conclusion, this study has shown that the applied nursing intervention aimed at enhancing sensitivity of primiparas to fetus's movement promoted mother-fetus attachment. Therefore, this study suggests that this nursing intervention to increase maternal sensitivity to the fetus's movement should be broadly applied to primiparas, which can be beneficial for formation of mother-infant relationship, and for promotion of the social, affective, and cognitive developments of their children.

• Stress
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2017

Loving-kindness and compassion meditation (LKCM) is known to be effective in improving mental health and interpersonal relationships. An exploratory pilot study was conducted with the aim of examining the feasibility of LKCM which known to be effective in improving mental health and interpersonal relationships for pregnant women. Measures of stress, depression, maternal fetal attachment, mindfulness and self-compassion of subjects (n=8) were obtained at baseline, and after a 4-weeks LKCM program to identify effectiveness and supplements. Based on a focus group interview, phenomenological analysis was also conducted. The results showed that improvement potential of psychological comfort, positive relationship with fetus as well as complementary points for session contents and home training. We hope that this study will broaden understanding for the development of LKCM for pregnant women and promote further research.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.276-283
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• 2011

Purpose: Prenatal depression is associated with potential negative consequences for the mother and infant. The purpose of this study was to examine pregnant women's stress, and depression and their impact on maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth. Methods: Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and fetal sonogram from a convenience sample of 166 pregnant women. Results: Women who have a low educational level, poor health and are dissatisfied with their marriage showed low maternal-fetal attachment. Prenatal depression had significant correlations with length of pregnancy and level of stress. Even though correlation between maternal stress and fetal weight (r=-.15, p=.099) and correlation between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment (r=-.13, p=.095) were not statistically significant, the impact of the prenatal psychological state of mothers can not be ignored as it relates to fetal health. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth can be affected by maternal emotional state, including stress or depression. These findings suggest that primary care nurses in hospitals and public health centers should provide prenatal depression screening and nursing intervention programs for management and prevention of prenatal stress and depression.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2012

Purpose: The main purposes of this study were to assess maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) of the expectant mothers of a fetus with a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) and to identify factors associated with MFA. Methods: The methodology was a cross sectional survey study using a self-administered questionnaire. Thirty pregnant women carrying a fetus with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD and 30 pregnant women with a normal fetus were enrolled in this study. The MFA Scale and PPS (The Prenatal Psychosocial Profile) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 Window version. Descriptive statistics, $X^2$-test and t-test were used to compare the two groups. The factors associated with MFA were identified by multiple regression analysis. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in MFA and social support from spouse was the only variable showing a significant difference. The model from the multiple regression analysis explained 33.8% of MFA for both groups. Conclusion: MFA of expectant mothers with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD and of mothers with a normal fetus were not significantly different. It is important that health care providers encourage expectant fathers to support the expectant mothers to increase MFA.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2018

Objective : High-risk pregnant women are exposed to the physical and emotional crisis associate with the condition of high-risk pregnancy, making these women emotionally unstable, exhibiting such conditions as depression and anxiety. The aim of this study was to examine what effects the temperament and character of high-risk pregnant women had on their depression, anxiety, and maternal-fetal attachment. Methods : A hundred and five high-risk pregnant women were recruited in the maternity ward of the Keimyung University medical center. All subjects were administered a sociodemographic and obstetric questionnaire, Temperament and Character Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, State Trait Anxiety Inventory-State, and Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. Results : First, higher scores on the harm-avoidance scale and lower scores on the self-directedness scale were associated with higher depression scores. Second, higher scores on the harm-avoidance and reward-dependence scale were associated with higher anxiety scores. Lastly, higher scores on the cooperativeness scale were associated with higher maternal-fetal attachment scores. Conclusion : Temperament and character in high-risk pregnant women were associated with the degree of depression, anxiety, maternal-fetal attachment. Based on these findings, it is suggested that examining temperament and character in advance and screening for vulnerability in pregnant women can help to prevent emotional problems for high-risk pregnant women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the stress, depression, and fetal attachment of pregnant women who underwent infertility treatment, and to identify factors associated with fetal attachment. Methods: As a correlation survey design, data were collected from 136 pregnant women who underwent infertility treatment. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Stress, depression, and fetal attachment averaged $3.01{\pm}0.60$ (range of scale 1~5), $10.02{\pm}6.51$ (out of a possible 63), and $3.64{\pm}0.55$ (range of scale 1~5), respectively. Level of fetal attachment was higher when mother's age was less than 35, having other children, and having prenatal education experience. Lower score of depression and client's age less than 35 were significant factors affecting fetal attachment. Conclusion: Infertility is a life-affecting trauma for the individual, and personal and social changes due to infertility cause physical and psychological difficulties even after a successful pregnancy with infertility treatment. Therefore, prenatal management programs need to be developed giving consideration to the emotional and physical changes in order to promote physical and psychological stability in the women pregnant following infertility treatment.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the predictors of maternal confidence between primipara and multipara mothers. Methods: The participants enrolled in this study were 145 mothers between 2 and 5 days postpartum. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, $X^2$ test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The predictors of maternal confidence among primipara mothers were social support, self-esteem, mode of delivery ($R^2$=.287, p<.001). Whereas, gender of baby, antenatal fetal attachment, and educational status explained maternal confidence among multipara mothers ($R^2$=.270, p<.001). Conclusion: The results indicate that when nurses develop programs to encourage maternal confidence for new mothers, they should take into account the differences between predictors of maternal confidence according to the mothers' experience of birth.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.180-190
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a supportive program on uncertainty, anxiety, and maternal-fetal attachment in high-risk pregnant women. Methods: The participants were 59 high-risk pregnant women admitted to the maternal-fetal intensive care unit. The control group (n=30) received usual treatment and antenatal care, while the experimental group (n=29) received an additional supportive program. Uncertainty, anxiety, and maternal-fetal attachment were measured in both groups prior to the intervention and at 3 days and 10 days after the intervention (or at discharge). Data were analyzed with the t-test, chi-square test, repeated-measures analysis of covariance, and the Greenhouse-Geisser correction in SPSS version 23.0. Results: A supportive program including information provision, nutritional care, emotional care, and exercise care was developed from the literature. All variables except women's length of stay were found to be homogeneous the between experimental and control groups in the pre-test. Length of stay was calculated as a covariate for testing hypotheses. There was a significant difference in state anxiety over time between the two groups, while there were no differences in uncertainty or maternal-fetal attachment. Conclusion: This supportive program was identified as an effective nursing intervention on state anxiety in high-risk pregnant women during their stay in the maternal-fetal intensive care unit. It is suggested that nurses could apply this program to alleviate high-risk pregnant women's state anxiety, and that this program could be modified to be more effective on uncertainty and maternal-fetal attachment in high-risk pregnant women.